Jeremy Jacquet Impresses Across the Board in Early Liverpool Career

Jeremy Jacquet Proves Worth After £60 Million Move to Liverpool

Liverpool invested £60 million in Jeremy Jacquet despite knowing there was some risk involved. After just seven appearances, signs suggest this gamble could pay off well.

According to Andy Jones of The Athletic, Jacquet joined the club recovering from a tough physical spell. A shoulder injury and a minor knee issue kept him sidelined for 190 days before Liverpool’s last pre-season game against Como. At 21 years old and with only 57 senior matches under his belt, patience seemed necessary.

Instead, Jacquet has quickly settled into Andoni Iraola’s system at Liverpool.

A Perfect Fit for Iraola’s Strategy

Jacquet’s performance during Liverpool’s 1-0 win at Bournemouth highlighted his strengths. He intercepted an attack near his own penalty area, advanced with the ball, set up Bradley Barcola, and found Alexander Isak. Shortly after, he intercepted another ball, helping create another chance.

This defensive alertness is vital in Iraola’s approach. Centre-backs must step out, challenge opponents, keep the team compact, and enable the press further upfield. Jacquet appears naturally suited for these roles.

His duel success rate in the Premier League is an impressive 76.3%, only surpassed by Everton’s James Tarkowski among defenders with over 300 minutes played. His aerial duel success stands at 76.9%, reinforcing his physical presence.

Van Dijk Urges Caution Despite Strong Start

"He has had an excellent start, but we are only in September," said Virgil van Dijk after the Bournemouth match. "I want him to keep working and learning. There is obviously a lot of praise, and rightly so, but I know how it works when you play a game that doesn’t meet the standards you have set. So let’s just stay calm and keep working."

Andoni Iraola also noted Jacquet’s physical growth since joining the Premier League. Early on, Jacquet struggled with the faster pace, often finishing matches exhausted or cramping. Recently, though, he has shown more stamina and solid performance throughout games.

Key Passing Skills Boost Liverpool’s Attack

One of Jacquet’s standout qualities is what happens once he regains possession. The Athletic points out how he turns defense into attack, something Liverpool sometimes missed with Ibrahima Konate.

• Passes into the final third: 57 (third highest among Premier League defenders)
• Line-breaking passes: 76 (sixth highest)

This blend of strength, anticipation, and forward passing explains why France's senior team coach Zinedine Zidane already included him in the national squad.

No one expects a 21-year-old centre-back to be perfect so soon. Yet with Konate's move to Real Madrid, Liverpool needed Jacquet to adapt fast—and he has done much more than just survive.

Analysis from Anfield Index

Watching Jacquet is exciting because he shows traits that usually take longer to develop in young defenders. His Bournemouth display was telling: Liverpool were defending a narrow lead away from home, and Jacquet handled the pressure well. He defended aggressively, carried himself with confidence, and, importantly, stayed forward-thinking after winning the ball.

That last part might be crucial. While Van Dijk offers a wide passing range, Jacquet adds another defender who can break lines with his passing. Opponents can no longer focus solely on one centre-back and expect Liverpool’s build-up to become predictable. Jacquet’s high number of passes into the final third and line-breaking balls suggests this is already shaping his role.

The partnership between Jacquet and Ronald Araujo, who has started three consecutive Premier League matches at right-back leading to clean sheets against Ipswich, Fulham, and Bournemouth, looks promising. Each opponent was restricted to under 0.80 expected goals in those matches.

For fans, perhaps the best sign is how quickly worries about Liverpool’s centre-back situation have faded.

Challenging fixtures against Manchester City, Brentford, Brighton, and Arsenal loom after the international break. Those games will reveal much more.

At this stage, Liverpool’s £60 million bet on Jacquet seems increasingly justified. He has started like someone determined to claim this position for the long term.